03 February 2007
LEGAZPI CITY—Albay local officials have asked President Macapagal-Arroyo to order a high level investigation on the damaged P210-million Pantao seaport in Libon, Albay and the unreleased P100 million for the rehabilitation of the Libon-Pantao road.
Touted as the government’s flagship project in Bicol, the construction of the “all-weather” Pantao International Seaport officially started in July 2003 but it became controversial when typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” caused extensive damage to the port’s superstructure.
In a resolution unanimously approved on Jan. 31, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan raised why despite the millions of pesos spent for the construction of the port, it has not withstood the test of nature.
Albay Vice Gov. James Calisin said the provincial board’s committee on public works and public utilities earlier conducted an independent investigation of the Pantao Port.
“The committee has found out that substandard materials were used in the construction of the port. Until now the port cannot be used because of the damage when it should have long been operational,” Calisin said. “The taxpayers’ money had been used for the project but it is still a dead investment.” Ephraim Aguilar and Bobby Labalan, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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